The Four Things That Matter Most
Dr. Wicker (Nancy Hart Wicker) is a hospice and palliative care physician whose life experiences provide a unique perspective. She is a wife to a Star Wars super-fan and mother to two beautiful, young girls. She enjoys writing about faith, medicine, family, Down syndrome, and adoption. She tries to follow Jesus in all that she does and fights hard for the underdog. She is introverted but loves community and makes time for dinner with friends, reading a good book, and watching bad reality TV.
In palliative care, we get to see many of our patients through to their final days. It’s one of the greatest privileges of my life. In addition to a person’s own peace with God, I would say peace in earthly 🌎 relationships is one of the most common things I hear my patients talk about. In Dr. Ira Byock’s book 📖 The Four Things That Matter Most, he talks about the power in these four phrases for healthy relationships and reconciliation. I have seen the immense power in these words at the end of life to reconcile family members, but why wait? Say them to the ones you love, and say them often. Trust me on this one. ❤️
As a side note, Dr. Byock is a leader in my field and someone I aspire to be like in many ways. I saw him crossing the road one time in Phoenix, and like a total weirdo, I ran after him. I told him how much I appreciated his work. He kindly stopped and took a picture with me. At the time I was a family physician practicing as a halftime hospitalist and halftime hospice medical director, but I aspired to go to fellowship to get boarded in palliative medicine. I had experienced some roadblocks in this and was feeling discouraged. I shared my aspirations and roadblocks with him. He told me to push on, because the field needed doctors just like me. It was such an encouragement to pursue my dream. Years later, and I am now fellowship-trained in palliative care with the career of my dreams practicing full time hospice and palliative care.
The Four Things That Matter Most by Dr. Ira Byock
cross posted from: https://www.facebook.com/notes/hospicecare-of-the-piedmont/the-four-things-that-matter-most/10163031397770305/